Editorial June 20, 1983 Issue

Substance of treatment

NATHAN A. TALBOT

If any one phrase could be said to characterize the substance of Christian Science treatment, it might be divine inspiration. The foundation for healing prayer simply cannot be formulized. Every individual should welcome into his treatment distinctive thought and fresh perspectives. What he or she discerns should be God-impelled.

The human mind so often looks for a formula to help in treating a case. It tends to turn away from divine inspiration and seek the kind of outline that would, in effect, eliminate the indispensable element of inspiration. And sometimes, when the human mind is confronted with the fact that treatment cannot be a formula, the temptation is to think that one doesn't know how to give treatment. But any student of the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy does have clear and specific direction for effective prayer. While the books do provide indispensable guidance, this guidance is not intended to reduce to prescription the spirit of freshness, vitality, discernment, and joy that we bring to our prayer.

A study of the books shows that one of the overriding elements of treatment is the need to recognize God's supremacy—even His allness. There are occasions when this glimpse of the totality and perfection of the divine presence is sufficient to heal. Christ Jesus understood God's allness and man's expression of Him so clearly that time and again his healings were instant. There are other occasions when an individual needs to very squarely face and defeat the belief that evil has some kind of reality in God's allness.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Moderating human relationships